St. Brogan

Flourished in the sixth or seventh
century. Several persons in repute for holiness seem to have borne
this name, which is variously written Brogan, Broccan, Bracan,
and even Bearchan and Bearchanus. Of these, two are
commemorated in the Irish Martyrologium of Aengus, the early date
of which (c. 800) is now generally admitted. There, under 8 July,
we read: "Brocan, the scribe, gained a noble triumph without
any fall"; and under 17 September: "Brocan of Ross Tuirc
thou shouldst declare". Colgan (Trias Thaumat., p.
518) speaks as if he were inclined to identify both these persons
with the author of an early Irish hymn upon St. Brigid. The
glosses upon Aengus and the Martyrology of Gorman, while seemingly
treating them as distinct, prove that the matter admits of no
certainty. Some modern hagiographers incline to regard the St.
Brogan of 8 July as the amanuensis and possibly the nephew of St.
Patrick. They style him bishop and locate him at Maethail-Brogain,
now Mothil in Waterford; but this is admittedly quite doubtful.
St. Brogan of Rosstuirc, on the other hand, is identified with the
author of the hymn to St. Brigid, and is believed to be the Abbot
Brochanus referred to in the Life of St. Abban, preserved in the
"Codex Salmanticensis". Rosstuirc is generally assigned
to the Diocese of Ossory, and may be Rossmore in Queen's County.

Other Brochans are mentioned in the
Martyrology of Gorman under 1 January, 9 April, 27 June, and 25
August.